Earth moving scraper



Dec. 1965 J. H. WILMOTH ETAL 3,224,119

EARTH MOVING SCRAPER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 29. 1963 We um aw JOHNHOWARD W/L MOTH HARP) L WILMOTH //V Vf N TOPS a) .4 77'ORNEVS Dec. 21,1965 J. WILMOTH ETAL 3,224,119

EARTH MOVING SGRAPER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 29, 1963 mi 3 3 1m: QMom 1 n 15 2 E 8k m9 .8\

1955 J. H. WlLMOTH ETAL 3,224,119

EARTH MOVING SCRAPER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 29, 1963 JOHN HOWARDW/L MOTH HARP) L W/L MOTH INVENTORS ATTORNEYS I om mm v9 United StatesPatent 3,224,119 EARTH MOVING SCRAPER John Howard Wilmoth, 5756 N.Flora, and Harry L. Wilmofh, 6289 N. 1st, both of Fresno, Calif. FiledApr. 29, 1963, Ser. No. 276,254 19 Claims. (Cl. 37-9) This inventionrelates to an improved earth moving scraper of the reel and bowl typeand more particularly to such a scraper incorporating a floating reel inconjunction with excavating depth control means affording continuous,selective adjustment.

Previously known earth moving scrapers of the reel and bowl type havebeen found to be of limited utility due to their inability to providesubstantially continuous adjustment of the depth of the earth excavatingblade normally incorporated in such scrapers. Such scrapers areconventionally propelled by a prime mover, such as a tractor, and incertain forms, the tractor may be incorporated into the scraper to forman integral earth moving unit. Although previously known scrapers ofthis type have been capable of satisfactory performance if operated in arestricted arena offering a uniform environment, various types of soilare usually encountered at different depths in any given excavatingenvironment. Due to their inability to provide depth control, which iscontinuously selective and capable of immediate variation during loadingoperations, the utility of previously known scrapers has been severelylimited. In addition, their design results in operationalcharacteristics which do not permit full utilization of the tractiveeffort of the prime mover, due to the limitation in the rate of loading,as well as their earth carrying capacity.

The earth moving scrapers of this type normally employ a transportingbowl disposed internally of an annular reel which elevates the earth tothe bowl. To effect a dumping of the earth so elevated by the reel, thebowl must be rotated through a predetermined arc of movement. Previouslyknown scrapers of this type have been observed to require a considerablerange of movement between loading and dumping positions, thereby furtherreducing their efficiency.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide animproved earth moving scraper of the reel and bowl type which has amarked increase in efficiency as compared with known scrapers.

Another object is to provide an earth moving scraper of the reel andbowl type having excavating depth control means which aflords continuousselective adjustment.

Another object is to provide such a scraper having a higher rate ofearth loading than that attainable by previously known scrapers of asimilar type.

Another object is to provide a reel and bowl type earth moving scraperwhich permits, throughout a wide range of operational environments, fullutilization of tractive power of the propelling means.

Another object is to provide in an earth moving scraper having a cuttingblade, means to damp shock forces transmitted by the cutting blade uponencountering obstructions in the excavating zone during loading.

A further object is to provide improved earth dumping and spreadingcapabilities in an earth moving scraper of the reel and bowl type.

These, together with other objects, will become more fully apparent uponreference to the following description and accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an earth moving scraper embodying theprinciples of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the scraper of FIG. 1 shown in an earthloading position.

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FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the scraper ofFIG. 2, taken on line 3-3 thereof.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing the scraper in an earthtransporting position in full lines, and in a dumping or unloadingposition, illustrated fragmentarily in dashed lines. A second scraper isshown fragmentarily in tandem trailing position.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view in side elevation showing shockabsorbing means incorporated in the scraper of FIG. 1.

Referring in greater detail to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, thescraper of the present invention includes a draft structure 10 whichprovides a forwardly extended gooseneck member 11 integrally joined witha rearwardly extending yoke 12. The yoke includes a transverselyextended draft tube 13 and a pair of laterally spaced rearwardlyprojecting yoke arms 14 rigidly secured to the tube. The forward end ofthe gooseneck member 11 is pivotally joined by a draft connection 20 forsubstantially universal movement in relation to a prime moverfragmentarily illustrated at 21. The draft connection 20 is adapted toaccommodate variations in the surface topography of the earth as it issequentially encountered by the prime mover 21 and the trailing scraperduring earth traversing movement. To facilitate such traversingmovement, the prime mover is provided with a pair of earth engagingdrive wheels 22 coupled by suitable power transmission means, not shown,to a source of power, also not shown, such as a contemporary internalcombustion engine. To perform certain operational functions subsequentlyto be described, it is a conventional practice to incorporate a sourceof power on the prime mover 21 and means selectively to transmit suchpower to stations remote from the prime mover. In conventional earthmoving equipment, such a source of power is in the form of a pressurefluid system including a hydraulic pump and control valve schematicallyillustrated at 23. It is to be understood that suitable flexibletransmission conduits, such as hydraulic hoses and the like, arenormally provided and are included in the scraper of the presentinvention. However, they have not been shown in detail for reasons ofclarity in illustrating other portions of the invention.

The scraper of the present invention also provides a trailing supportmember 30 including a central strut 31 disposed intermediate a pair oflaterally opposed struts 32. The relative sizes and positions of thestruts 31 and 32 can more clearly be seen in FIG. 1. The struts arerigidly secured, as by welding, to a transversely disposed rear axlemember 33. Suitable bearing means, not shown, provide individual axes ofrotation for ground engaging wheels 34, said axes being alignedtransversely of the mobile vehicle formed by the draft structure 10 andthe trailing support member 30. The support member 30 also includes atransversely extended tube 35 having a pair of laterally spacedforwardly projecting arms 36 rigidly connected thereto to form aforwardly extending yoke. Each of the arms affords individual respectivedistal ends 37 interconnected by an elongated, transversely extendedframe member 38. Each of the arms 36 supports a respective upwardlyprojecting lug 40 rigidly secured thereto, as by welding. The lugs 40are each pivotally connected by a pin 41 to a respective one of the arms14 of the yoke 12. The pins thereby afford an axis of relative pivotalmovement between the draft structure 10 and the trailing support member30.

A main hoisting ram 45 is provided with suitable hoses 46 connected bymeans (not shown) to the pressure fluid system 23 and alternately serveas supply and return lines 10 for pressure fluid to actuate the ram 45.The ram is pivotally connected to the gooseneck member 11 at thecylinder end by a pin 47. The ram includes an extensible piston rod 48pivotally connected by a pin 49 to a pair of forwardly projecting lugs50 carried by the frame member 38. Accordingly, appropriate extensionand retraction of the ram is effective to cause relative pivotalmovement between the draft structure 10 and the trailing support member30, and consequent selective control of the elevation of earthexcavating means subsequently to be described.

An earth receiving hopper 55 is supported on the trailing member 30 forrocking movement about a transverse pivotal axis by suitable pivot pins56. The pins 56 are supported in laterally opposed axially alignedrelationship by individual bearings in the form of pillow blocks 57rigidly secured to the yoke arms 36 of the trailing support member 30.The hopper 55 includes spaced side Walls 60 rigidly interconnected by anarcuate combined bottom and rear Wall, thereby to form a receptaclecapable of transporting a predetermined quantity of material, such asexcavated earth, and selectively discharging, or dumping such materialupon appropriate rocking in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGS. 2and 4 of the drawings. To facilitate excavation of the earth, the hopper55 is provided with 21 depending cutting blade 62 rigidly secured to thewall 61 and affording a forwardly disposed earth engaging edge 63.During loading of the scraper, the blade is disposed in an excavatingzone with the edge 63 below the surface of the earth, such as theposition illustrated in FIG. 2.

To prevent damage to the cutting blade 63 and associated supportingelements, a pair of shock absorbers 65 are arranged in laterallyopposed, paired relationship. Each of the shock absorbers isindividually connected to the hopper 55 by a hydraulic hopper actuatingram 66 pivotally connected to the hopper by a pin 67.

The structural details of each of the shock absorbers 65 are moreclearly shown in FIG. and include a mounting base 70 rigidly secured tothe tube 35. An accommodating link 71 is pivotally connected to thehydraulic ram 66 by a pin 72. The link is mounted for rocking movementabout a pin 73 carried in an upstanding lug '74 secured to a respectiveone of the yoke arms 36. A biasing spring 75 engages the mounting base70 and is in the form of a helical compressio spring held in position byan adjustment bolt 76 which passes through the spring. The adjustingbolt 76 is received in suitable apertures provided in both the base 70and the link 71 and selectively pre-loads the spring 75 by means of anadjustment nut 77. The pre-load of the biasing spring 75 is maintainedby a lock nut 78.

An earth elevating means is provided in the present invention and isillustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 of the drawings in the form of aannular reel 80. The reel is provided with a plurality of peripheral,axially extended vanes 81 circumferentially spaced about the reel atuniform intervals of spacing. The radial length of each vane and thecircumferential spacing of the vanes is such as to accommodate the rateof earth excavated incident to earth traversing movement of the scraper.The vanes are rigidly maintained in position by a pair of axially spacedcircular end walls 82 and a plurality of axially spaced ribs 83circumferentially extended between adjacent vanes. The reel is supportedfor rotation about a transverse shaft 84 by means of bearings 85 mountedin a reel hub 86 integrally joined with each of the end walls 82.Accordingly, the shaft 84 provides a transversely extended axis ofrotation for the reel 80, the details of which are shown in FIG. 3.

The shaft 84 is supported in the scraper by means of a pair of laterallyopposed axially aligned pillow blocks 91), each being individuallyrigidly connected to a respective one of a pair of laterally opposedfloating draft arms 92. Each of the draft arms 92 is connected by a pin93 to a respective reel hinge base 94 rigidly mounted on a respectiveone of the arms 36 at a point adjacent to its respective distal end 37.

A semi-cylindrical transport bowl is disposed internally of the annularreel 80. The bowl provides semicircular spaced end walls 101 integrallyjoined to a peripheral wall 102 extended throughout a predetermined arc.In the specific form of the invention illustrated, the peripheral wall102 extends throughout an arc of substantially 180 and terminates inrespective forward and rearward edges 103 and 1M. As can be seen moreclearly in FIG, 2, the forward edge 103 is carried during loadingoperations at an elevation higher than the rearward edge 1%. The termsforward and rearward with respect to the edges 1113 and 104 are employedrelative to the direction of normal movement of the scraper, which isfrom left to right, as viewed in each of the several figures of thedrawingsv The bowl 106 is supported about the transverse axis affordedby the pillow block bearings as by a hub 106 rigidly secured to each ofthe end walls 161, as by rivets 1117. The hub 106 is non-rotatablymounted on the shaft 84 by means of a diametrically extending pin 108passing through suitable aligned apertures provided in both the hub 106and the shaft 84.

At each opposite end of the shaft 84, a respective pair of bowl controlarms 110 are disposed on opposite sides of the respective pillow block91), and rigidly, non-rotatably secured to the shaft 84, as bydiametrically extending pins 111. Each pair of arms 110 is individuallypivotally connected as by pin 112 to a piston rod extended from a bowldumping ram 114. Each of the rams 114 is individually pivotallyconnected at 115 to a respective one of the floating reel draft arms 92.Although omitted for purposes of clarity, it is to be understood thatboth of the hopper actuating rams 66 and the bowl dumping rams 114 areprovided with suitable pressure fluid supply and return conduits, suchas flexible hoses, not shown. Such conduits are connected with thepressure fluid system 23, and thereby arranged for selective extensionand retraction to accomplish their respective functions.

Operation The operation of the described embodiment of the subjectinvention is believed to be readily apparent and is briefly summarizedat this point. During loading operations, the prime mover 21 is operatedto traverse the earth at a rate compatible with the mechanicalcharacteristics of the earth being excavated. By appropriate movement ofthe control valves included in the pressure fluid system 23, the mainhoist ram 45 is selectively extended to effect pivotal movement betweenthe draft structure 10 and the trailing support member 30. As can beseen in FIG. 2, extension of the ram 45 effects an immediate change inthe elevation of the earth engaging edge 63 of the cutting blade 62.Accordingly, the rate of earth excavation is continuously, selectivelyadjusted to satisfy the characteristics of the earth encountered in theexcavating zone of a given environment.

It will also be observed that regardless of the change i elevation ofthe cutting blade 62 by appropriate extension and retraction of the ram45, the reel 80 is permitted to be maintained in contact with thesurface of the earth being traversed at a uniform earth engagingpressure by reason of the floating reel draft arms 92 being pivotallyconnected to the yoke arms 36. Consequently, the floating draft arms 92permit the reel to seek its own elevation in conformance with thesurface configuration of the earth being traversed, while the depth ofthe cutting blade 62 can be adjusted to accommodate the physicalcharacteristics of such earth. Such continuous adjustment of the cuttingedge in conjunction with the floating reel 80 per-- mits maximumutilization of the tractive effort available from the prime mover 21 andalso increases the efliciency of the scraper during loading operations.

Due to engagement of its peripheral vanes 81 with the earth beingtraversed, the reel 80 rotates in a clockwise direction, as indicated bythe arrow in FIG. 2. Upon such rotation, each successive vane 81 movesexcavated earth rearwardly, upwardly away from the blade 62 and elevatessuch excavated earth for subsequent deposition in the hopper 55 duringthe initial portion of the loading cycle. Upon a given quantity of earthbeing collected in the hopper 55, excavated earth is carried upwardlyand rearwardly by the vanes of the reel 80, and subsequently dischargedat an elevated position into the open transport bowl 100. By appropriateextension and retraction of the hopper accommodating ram 66, theproximity of the blade 62 relative to the reel 80 can be controlled sothat the hopper is at all times in an optimum position for cooperationwith the reel in elevating excavated earth from the excavating zone.

In the event that the earth engaging edge 63 of the cutting blade 62encounters an obstruction during excavating and loading operation, theshock absorbers 65 are effective to decrease the rate of shock forcetransmitted to the cutting blade and supporting members therefor. Uponencountering such an obstacle, the hopper is rocked about the pivot pins56 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, thereby compressingthe springs 75. The range of spring compression is limited by thepredetermined position of the adjustment nut 77, as well as thelocations of the pivotal points of attachment 73 for the accommodatinglinks 71 relative to the pivotal connection 67 for the hopper actuatingram 66. During such compression of the shock spring 75, the rams 66serve as longitudinally rigid connecting links between the shockabsorbers 65 and the hopper 55.

Assuming that the loading cycle has been completed and that both thehopper 55 and the internal transport bowl 100 have been filled todesired capacity, the main hoist ram 45 is retracted to raise thecutting blade 62 above the surface of the earth. Simultaneously, thehopper actuating rams 66 are similarly retracted to maintain the cuttingblade 62 in close proximity to the reel 80 to prevent loss of earthbeing transported by the hopper 55 and the bowl 100. It will be notedthat sufficient range of elevation of the forwardly extending yoke arms36 has been provided to permit the arms 36 to engage the floating draftarms 92. Consequently, retracting the main hoist ram 45 willsequentially elevate the cutting blade 62 and raise the reel 80 from aground engaging position, as shown in FIG. 2, to an elevated transportposition, shown in FIG. 4.

The vehicle then proceeds to a dumping area, where the earth beingtransported is conveniently discharged in a uniform layer by reason ofthe accurate dumping and leveling characteristics of the scraper. Thebowl dumping rams 114 are extended a sufiicient distance to effect acounterclockwise rocking of the bowl 100, as viewed in FIG. 4. It willbe observed that such counterclockwise rocking, as indicated by thearrow 125, extends throughout a range substantially less than 90, and inthe form of the invention illustrated, is approximately 50. Accordingly,the dumping cycle is shortened to a minimum amount of time due to therelatively short range of rocking movement as compared to previouslyknown scrapers of the same general type.

The spreading of earth discharged by the internal bowl can be accuratelycontrolled by appropriate extension of the main hoist ram 45, and in thealternative or in combination, appropriate extension of the hopperactuating rams 66. Extension of these rams effects a controlledelevation of the blade 62, which functions as a striker during dumpingand spreading. By so controlling the elevation of the blade 62, thethickness of the layer of discharged earth can be selectively controlledby the operator of the scraper. To facilitate a complete discharge ofthe contents of the hopper 55, the rams 66 are extended a sufficientdistance to effect a clockwise rocking of the hopper and consequentdischarge of its contents.

Accordingly, it will be observed that the present invention providesmaximum utilization of the tractive effort of the prime mover employedin the earth moving scraper, minimizes loading time, increases the totalearth carrying capacity, as well as minimizing dumping time. Inaddition, the scraper of the present invention permits loading inunfavorable environments without risking damage to the cutting blade andsupporting structural elements by reason of the shock absorbersincorporated in the blade mounting. Also, the improved dumping andspreading characteristics of the scraper increase the overall efliciencyand utility of scrapers of this type.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what isconceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it isrecognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of theinvention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed hereinbut is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace anyand all equivalent devices and apparatus.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. An improved earth moving scraper comprising a mobile frame having apredetermined excavating zone; an earth engaging scraper blade carriedby the frame at said excavating zone; a receiving hopper mounted in theframe rearwardly of said blade and adapted to receive earth at saidexcavating zone; rotary earth elevating reel means freely rotatablymounted in the frame for rolling engagement upon the earth incident toearth traversing movement of the frame and being disposed forwardly ofand in cooperating relationship with said hopper and adapted to elevateearth received from said excavating zone and to discharge said earth atan elevated station, including means permitting free floatingelevational movement of said reel means independently of the scraperblade in conforming relation to the contour of the earth traversed; andan open bowl carried by the frame and disposed relative to saidelevating reel means to receive earth discharged therefrom at saidelevated station.

2. An earth moving scraper comprising a mobile frame having apredetermined direction of travel; an earth engaging scraper blademounted transversely in the frame; a rotary earth elevating reel mountedfor rotation in the frame about an axis transversely of the frame aboveand forwardly of the blade, said reel having a periphery disposedadjacent to the ground for rolling travel thereover and adjacent to theblade to scrape earth rearwardly thereover during travel of the frame; ahopper mounted in the frame rearwardly of the blade to receive earthscraped thereover by the reel positioned to accumulate such earth andupon such accumulation to supply earth against the rearward periphery ofthe reel for elevation by the reel; and a bowl mounted in the framewithin the reel having an upwardly disposed opening adapted to receiveearth elevated by the reel.

3. An earth transporting scraper comprising a mobile frame having apredetermined direction of travel; a hopper mounted in the frame forpivotal movement about an axis disposed transversely of the framebetween a forwardly pivoted predetermined earth receiving position and arearwardly pivoted predetermined earth discharging position, said hopperhaving an open forward side and a lower edge; an earth engaging scraperblade mounted transversely of the frame on the lower edge of the hopper;a rotary earth elevating reel mounted for rotation in the frame about anaxis transversely of the frame above and forwardly of the blade, saidreel having a periphery disposed adjacent to the ground for rollingengagement therewith during travel of the frame and adjacent to theblade when the hopper is in receiving position to scrape earth over theblade into the hopper and to elevate earth from the hopper when earthhas accumulated therein; and a bowl having an opening mounted in theframe within the reel for rocking movement between an earth receivingposition with the opening upwardly disposed to receive earth from thereel and a dumped position with the opening downwardly disposed.

4. An improved earth moving scraper comprising a mobile frame; an earthengaging scraper blade carried by the frame at an excavating zone; shockabsorbing means interposed the frame and said blade to permit limitedbiasing movement thereof rearwardly in the frame upon encountering anobstruction in said zone; a receiving hopper mounted in the framerearwardly of said and adapted to receive earth at said excavating zone;rotary earth elevating reel means carried by the frame forwardly of saidhopper; and means mounting said elevating reel means in the frame forrolling earth engagement in cooperating relationship with said hopper,including means permitting independent elevational movement of saidelevating reel means to conform to variations in the surface of theearth encountered during traversing movement of said frame.

5. An improved earth moving scraper comprising a mobile frame; an earthengaging scraper blade; means mounting the blade on the frame includingpower means adapted selectively to control the elevation of the blade atan excavating zone; shock absorbing means interposed the frame and saidblade to permit limited biased movement thereof rearwardly in the frameupon encountering an obstruction in said zone; a receiving hoppermounted in the frame and adapted to receive earth excavated by saidblade; and rotary earth elevating reel means freely rotatably mounted inthe frame for rolling engagement upon the earth incident to earthtraversing movement of the frame and being disposed forwardly of thehopper in cooperating relationship thereto so that earth excavated bythe blade is elevated to and discharged in the hopper, including meanspermitting free floating elevational movement of said reel meansindependently of the scraper blade in conforming relation to the contourof the earth traversed.

6. An improved earth moving scraper comprising a mobile frame; an earthengaging scraper blade; means mounting the blade on the frame includingpower means selectively to control the elevation of the blade at anexcavating zone; shock absorbing means interposed the frame and saidblade to permit limited biased movement thereof rearwardly in the frameupon encountering an obstruction in said zone; a receiving hoppermounted in the frame rearwardly of said blade and adapted to receiveearth excavated by said blade; annular rotary earth elevating reel meansmounted in the frame forwardly of and in cooperating relationship withsaid hopper and adapted to elevate earth received from said excavatingzone and to discharge said earth at an elevated station; and an opentransport bowl carried by the frame and disposed internally of saidelevating reel means to receive earth discharged therefrom.

7. An improved earth moving scraper comprising a mobile frame; an earthengaging scraper blade; means mounting the blade on the frame includingpower means selectively to control the elevation of the blade at anexcavating zone; shock absorbing means interposed the frame and saidblade to permit limited biased movement thereof rearwardly in the frameupon encountering an obstruction in said zone; a receiving hoppermounted in the frame and adapted to receive earth excavated by saidblade; annular rotary earth elevating means mounted in the frame incooperating relationship with said hopper and adapted to elevate earthreceived from said excavating zone and to discharge said earth at anelevated station; an open transport bowl pivotally mounted in the frameand disposed internally of said elevating means to receive earthdischarged therefrom; and power means connected to the bowl selectivelyto move the bowl between a receiving position and a dischargingposition.

8. An improved earth moving scraper comprising a mobile frame; an earthengaging scraper blade; means mounting the blade on the frame includingpower means selectively to control the elevation of the blade at anexcavating zone; shock absorbing means interposed the frame and saidblade to permit limited biased movement thereof rearwardly in the frameupon encountering an obstruction in said zone; a receiving hoppermounted in the frame and adapted to receive earth excavated by saidblade; annular rotary earth elevating means mounted in the frameforwardly of and in cooperating relationship with said hopper andadapted to elevate earth received from said excavating zone and todischarge said earth at an elevated station, including means permittingengagement of the surface of the earth being traversed in floatingindependent elevational relation to said scraper blade; an opentransport bowl carried by the frame and disposed internally of saidelevating means to receive earth discharged therefrom; and power meansconnected to the bowl selectively to rock the bowl between a receivingposition and a discharging position.

9. In an earth moving scraper, a draft structure including a forwardlyextended gooseneck member and a rearwardly extended yoke integraltherewith and providing laterally spaced arms; a trailing support memberincluding a forwardly extended yoke providing laterally spaced armsterminating in respective distal ends; means pivotally interconnectingthe respective arms of said yokes for relative movement about ahorizontal transverse axis disposed rearwardly of said distal ends;earth engaging wheels rotatably mounted on said support member andadapting the scraper for earth traversing movement; an earth receivinghopper pivotally mounted on said forwardly extended yoke for rockingmovement about a horizontal transverse axis; a hydraulically actuatedram pivotally interconnecting the hopper and said trailing supportmember for moving the hopper between respective earth loading anddumping positions; a transversely extended cutting blade mounted on thehopper in a depending position and adapted to engage the earth at anexcavating zone; an annular reel affording peripheral, axially extended,circumferentially spaced vanes adapted to elevate earth upon rotation ofthe reel incident to earth traversing movement of the scraper when thereel is in a position engaging the surface of the earth; a pair ofrearwardly extended draft arms, each pivotally connected to a respectiveone of the arms of the forwardly extended yoke of said support memberfor rocking movement about a horizontal transverse axis located adjacentto the distal ends of said yoke arms; axially aligned bearing meanscarried by said draft arms adjacent to their rearward ends, said bearingmeans affording a horizontal transverse axis of rotation for said reel;means mounting said reel in said bearing for rotation about said axis; atransport bowl having laterally spaced end walls and a confiningperipheral wall generated about the axis of rotation afforded by saidbearings and having a circumferential extent through a predeterminedare; bearing means carried by said draft arms and rotatably mounting thebowl thereby affording an axis of rotation for said bowl coincident withsaid reel axis; a hydraulically actuated bowl dumping ram operativelyinterconnected between said bowl and one of said draft arms; and ahydraulically actuated depth control ram operatively connected betweensaid draft structure and said support member selectively to control theelevation of said cutting blade in said excavating zone.

10. The scraper of claim 9 wherein biasing means are interposed thesupport member and said hopper actuating ram to permit limited rockingmovement of the hopper and consequent rearward movement of the cuttingblade incident to encountering an obstruction during earth traversingmovement of the scraper.

11. The scraper of claim 9 wherein said peripheral wall of said bowl isextended throughout an arc of substantially thereby to provide asemi-cylindrical configuration for said bowl.

112. The scraper of claim 11 wherein said peripheral wall terminates inrespective forward and rearward edges, said forward edge being disposedat a higher elevation when the bowl is in a loading position, thereby toprovide a rearwardly facing earth receiving opening.

1.3. The earth scraper of claim 12 wherein said bowl is arranged forpivotal movement toward a dumping position, the direction of pivotalmovement being such that the forward edge of the bowl is moved to ahigher position throughout the range of pivotal movement while therearward edge is concurrently moved to a lower position.

14. The scraper of claim 13 wherein the arcuate range of pivotalmovement from a loading position to a dumping position is substantiallyless than 90.

An earth transporting scraper comprising a mobile frame having apredetermined direction of travel; a hopper mounted in the frame forpivotal movement about an axis disposed transversely of the framebetween a forwardly pivoted predetermined earth receiving position and arearwarclly pivoted predetermined earth discharging position, saidhopper having an open forward side and a lower edge; an earth engagingscraper blade mounted transversely of the frame on the lower edge of thehopper; a rotary earth elevating annular reel mounted for rotation inthe frame about an axis transversely of the frame above and forwardly ofthe blade, said reel having a lower periphery engaging the ground forrolling engagement therewith during travel of the frame and a rearwardperipher extended into said hopper above the blade when the hopper is inreceiving position to elevate earth over the blade into the hopper; andmeans mounting the reel on the frame in free floating relation to saidframe and to said hopper for independent elevational movement inconformity to the surface of the earth traversed.

16. An improved earth moving scraper comprising a mobile frame; an earthengaging scraper blade; means mounting the blade on the frame includingpower means selectively to control the elevation of the blade at anexcavating zone; a receiving hopper mounted in the frame and adapted toreceive earth excavated by said blade; annular rotary earth elevatingreel means mounted in the frame forwardly of and in cooperatingrelationship with said hopper and adapted to elevate earth received fromsaid excavating zone and to discharge said earth at an elevated station,including means permitting engagement of the surface of the earth beingtraversed in floating, independent elevational relation to said scraperblade; an open transport bowl carried by the frame and disposedinternaliy of said elevating means to receive earth dischargedtherefrom; and power means connected to the bowl selectively to rock thebowl between a receiving position and a discharging position.

17. An earth moving scraper comprising a mobile frame having apredetermined excavating zone; an earth engaging scraper blade carriedby the frame at the excavating zone; a hopper mounted in the framerearwardly of the blade and adapted to receive earth at said excavatingzone; rotary earth elevating means freely rotatably disposed in theframe forwardly of the blade and hopper in cooperating relationshipthereto so that earth excavated by the blade is elevated to anddischarged in the hopper by the earth elevating means; and meansmounting said elevating means on the frame in free floating relation tosaid frame and to said hopper for independent elevational movement inconformity to the surface of the earth traversed.

18. An improved earth moving scraper comprising a mobile frame; an earthengaging scraper blade; means mounting the blade on the frame forcontrolled elevational movement, including power means selectively tocontrol the elevation of the blade at an excavating zone; a receivinghopper mounted in the frame rearwardly of said blade and adapted toreceive earth at said excavating Zone; rotary earth elevating reel meansmounted in the frame forwardly of and in cooperating relationship withsaid hopper and adapted to elevate earth received from said excavatingzone and to discharge said earth at an elevated station; and an opentransport bowl carried by the frame in substantially vertically spacedrelation to said hopper and disposed relative to said elevating reelmeans to receive earth discharged therefrom at said elevated station.

19. An improved earth moving scraper comprising a mobile frame includingan elongated forward draft structure, a trailing hopper support member;means pivotally interconnecting the support member and the draftstructure for relative movement about a transverse horizontal axis; anearth engaging scraper blade carried by said hopper support member;power means interposed said draft structure and said hopper supportmember to effect relative pivotal movement about said transverse axisthereby selectively to control the elevation of the blade at anexcavating zone; a receiving hopper mounted in said support structurerearwardly of said blade and adapted to receive earth at said excavatingzone; an annular rotary earth elevating reel means carried by the framefor rolling engagement upon the earth incident to earth traversingmovement of the frame and disposed forwardly of and in cooperatingrelationship with said hopper and said blade and adapted to elevateearth received from said excavating zone and to discharge said earth atan elevated station located forwardly and above said excavating zone;and means for mounting said earth elevating reel means on the frame topermit independent elevational movement of the reel means in conformityto the surface of the earth being traversed.

References flited by the Examiner FOREEGN PATENTS 1/ 1903 Austria. 2/1945 Great Britain.

ABRAHAM G. STONE, Primary Examiner.

BENJAMIN HERSH, Examiner.

1. AN IMPROVED EARTH MOVING SCRAPER COMPRISING A MOBILE FRAME HAVING APREDETERMINED EXCAVATING ZONE; AN EARTH ENGAGING SCRAPER BLADE CARRIEDBY THE FRAME AT SAID EXCAVATING ZONE; A RECEIVING HOPPER MOUNTED IN THEFRAME REARWARDLY OF SAID BLADE AND ADAPTED TO RECEIVE EARTH AT SAIDEXCAVATING ZONE; ROTARY EARTH ELEVATING REEL MEANS FREELY ROTATABLYMOUNTED IN THE FRAME FOR ROLLING ENGAGEMENT UPON THE EARTH INCIDENT TOEARTH TRAVERSING MOVEMENT OF THE FRAME AND BEING DISPOSED FORWARDLY OFAND IN COOPERATING RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID HOPPER AND ADAPTED TO ELEVATEEARTH RECEIVED FROM SAID EXCAVATING ZONE AND TO DISCHARGE SAID EARTH ATAN ELEVATED STATION, INCLUDING MEANS PERMITTING FREE FLOATINGELEVATIONAL MOVEMENT OF SAID REEL MEANS INDEPENDENTLY OF THE SCRAPERBLADE IN CONFORMING RELATION TO THE CONTOUR OF THE EARTH TRAVERSED; ANDAN OPEN BOWL CARRIED BY THE FRAME AND DISPOSED RELATIVE TO SAIDELEVATING REEL MEANS TO RECEIVE EARTH DISCHARGED THEREFROM AT SAIDELEVATED STATION.